Is There a Proper Way to Washing Hair?

We know that you’ve been washing your hair for as long as you can remember and you probably think you know the ins and outs of how to get your hair squeaky clean. But washing hair isn’t as simple as lather, rinse, repeat. It’s beneficial to the health of your scalp and overall hair health to learn how to properly wash your strands. Plus, it fights against issues like oily hair, scalp irritation, and limp, lifeless hair. Pretty amazing, right? Read on to learn more about washing hair and how to revamp your everyday routine to help the health of your strands.

Washing Hair: Step by Step

1. Protect fragile ends.

If you have very long or damaged hair, you’ll need to start by protecting your hair. When your hair is wet, it is at it’s weakest and can be more prone to breaking and damage. Add a small amount of some oil to the very ends of your hair to protect it as you wash.

2. Soak all of your hair.

Wet your hair until it is soaked all the way through, like seriously sopping wet. This can take a minute or two so don’t be afraid to get your hands in there and help the water to completely soak all your hair. You want to make sure that even the hard to reach spots like the back of your hair get wet, too.

3. Use the right shampoo for you.

Different shampoos are created with different hair types in mind. Using the wrong one can lead to curly hair looking frizzy and thin hair looking flat. For instance, if you have dry hair look for a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, like TIGI Copyright Custom Care Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.

4. Shampoo portion control.

You might be used to using a good palmful of shampoo to be able to distribute it throughout all of your hair. Instead, start with a dollop the size of a nickel and go from there. You can always add more shampoo but it’s harder to rinse out if you start with too much.

5. Apply shampoo.

Take that small dollop of shampoo and lather up the roots. Work the shampoo between your hands and evenly distribute around your scalp. This means all over your head, even behind your ears and at the nape of your neck. Once you apply the shampoo, move so that your hair is out of the way of your shower, or turn it off to save water! If you aren’t feeling sudsy enough dip your hair back in the water and try again before adding more shampoo.

6. Wash your hair.

Use your hands to create a thick lather and massage your scalp at the same time. This increases circulation and is good for your skin. Once you have completely lathered around your roots, work the suds down to cleanse your mid-lengths and ends. You don’t want to add shampoo directly to the length of your hair because it can be too drying, which the younger hair at your roots can handle.

7. Rinse your hair.

When you have cleansed all your hair you need to rinse, and rinse well. Shampoo bubbles like to stick to your hair so make sure you really get all of it out. This is beneficial to your scalp health and will help hair that tends to get flat.

8. Condition and rinse again, if needed.

When you have totally worked out the shampoo, add conditioner to the ends of your hair. Make sure your conditioner is well suited to your hair by utilizing products in the same line. Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes and rinse thoroughly. End off by rinsing your whole head of hair in warm water. This helps to seal the outer layer of your hair, helping it look shinier.